Anxiety at the family table
Imagine an ordinary weekend evening with a family sitting around a dining table. The table was filled with simple home-cooked dishes, but the atmosphere was unusually heavy. They're not talking about plans for the weekend, they're talking about bills: mortgages, education expenses, daily expenses. This is not just the story of one family, but a true portrayal of many Chinese families. Today, we will start with this scenario to explore the current state of wealth and the challenges ahead of Chinese families.
The current state of wealth in Chinese households
Recently, the results of a CCTV survey revealed a startling fact: not many households in China can come up with 400,000 yuan in cash at once. This is a far cry from what many expected. According to media statistics, the average asset of each household in China has reached 3 million yuan, but most of these assets exist in the form of fixed assets, such as real estate and cars. In 2018, the amount of new resident deposits in mainland China was between 4 and 5 trillion yuan per year, and in 2022, this figure has reached 18 trillion yuan. However, there is a reality behind these figures: most households do not have a lot of cash flow.
The "Pitfall" of Fixed Assets
Why is this happening? One of the reasons is the "trap" of fixed assets. Many families' wealth is locked into property and cars, which are extremely illiquid while valuable. For the affluent, their wealth is often dispersed among investments such as the stock market, funds, precious metals, and antique calligraphy and paintings. While this diversification reduces risk, it also strains their cash flow. Even big, seemingly wealthy bosses may feel stretched thin when they need large sums of cash.
The "cold winter" of the luxury car market
The downturn in the luxury car market also reflects this problem. In the case of the Audi A8L, there was only one model sold in a month last year. This is in stark contrast to what is commonly perceived. Many people think that Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi are the epitome of luxury cars, but the reality is that even the high-end models of these brands are facing sales difficulties. BMW has even announced that it will no longer fight price wars in order to maintain its image as a luxury car. Behind this market phenomenon is the cautious attitude of consumers towards large purchases.
The "28 Law" misunderstanding of wealth distribution
Many people believe that wealth distribution should conform to the 28th rule, which states that 20% of people hold 80% of wealth. However, this is not the case. According to the central bank's data, 99.63% of the country's people have bank deposits of less than 500,000 yuan. In other words, only 0.37% of the people in China have more than 500,000 yuan in savings, or about 5 million people. This suggests that the concentration of wealth is not as high as it seems.
The path of "wealth accumulation" for ordinary people
For the average person, wealth accumulation is a long and difficult process. Most of the income levels of ordinary employees are between 3,000-8,000 yuan, while the cost of living remains high. It takes at least 5 years for a family to save 400,000 cash, and there can be no big spending during this period. This is not only an economic issue, but also a social one. How to achieve wealth accumulation in a limited income is a challenge that every family needs to face.
Debt and the Consumption Trap
In the modern world, borrowing money has become extremely convenient, but it also comes with great risks. Many people take out loans to spend without fully considering the consequences. Once you lose your job or your income decreases, these loans can become a heavy burden. Social pressures such as marriage and real estate have forced many families to choose loans. This consumption trap not only consumes the family's cash flow, but also increases the economic risk.
Improve financial quotient and master financial management skills
In the face of a complex economic environment, it has become particularly important to improve financial quotient and financial management ability. By learning about investment and financial management, families can better manage their wealth and grow their assets. This requires not only theoretical knowledge, but also the accumulation of practice and experience. Mastering financial literacy can help families maintain stability in the face of economic fluctuations and achieve sustainable wealth growth.
In the face of adversity, perseverance and survival wisdom
In the midst of economic uncertainty, the wisdom of perseverance and survival is particularly important. Everyone will encounter good times and bad times, and how to stay resilient and rational in the face of adversity is a question that everyone needs to think about. To survive is the greatest victory. In the face of the winds in life, we need to hold the steering wheel of our lives tightly and not be blown down by the strong winds.
epilogue
In these challenging times, every family needs to face the dilemma of financial pressure and wealth accumulation. By improving our financial intelligence and financial literacy, we can better cope with these challenges. Remember, perseverance and wisdom are our most valuable assets, both in good times and in bad. Let's work together to achieve financial freedom for individuals and families and a better future.